Nike Confirms the Return of the Nike Zoom Kobe 1

Revisiting “The Black Mamba’s” beginnings.

Shortly after a teaser via social media, Nike has shared the official release news regarding the return of Kobe Bryant‘s first signature sneaker. Although its overall look may remind you of him scoring 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, the upcoming launch has been reworked with technology to reflect the needs of today’s athlete.

Nike Basketball‘s product director Tony Grosso and his team placed a strong emphasis on removing excess materials from this year’s iteration and reducing its overall weight in order to heighten its performance on court. In addition, its foam has been removed while the carbon fiber shank’s size has been decreased to provide a better feel.

Dubbed the “Protro” (Performance Retro), this year’s edition of the Nike Zoom Kobe 1 will officially launch on February 17 for $175 USD via nike.com and select Nike Basketball retailers. While you wait, watch Kobe score all 81 of his points in the three minute clip below.